Australia has taken a giant leap towards levelling the Ashes series after bowling England out for a paltry 102 on the first day of the fourth Test at Headingley.

England were reeling at 6 for 72 at lunch after winning the toss and electing to bat and were quickly mopped up by the Australian attack.

Peter Siddle finished with 5 for 21, while the recalled Stuart Clark, in the side at the expense of off spinner Nathan Hauritz, repaid the selectors with figures of 3 for 18.

The pair led a disciplined performance by the Australian attack which invited the weak English top order into stray shots with some fine swing bowling on a conducive morning for the bowlers.

All of Australia's wickets came from catches, including eight behind the wicket.

Opener Alastair Cook (30) and wicketkeeper Matt Prior (37 not out) were the only two English batsmen to make double figures on a miserable morning for the hosts.

Chaotic morning

The inspirational Andrew Flintoff was forced out of the match due to his ongoing knee injury, with paceman Steven Harmison brought into the side.

Prior was also in doubt at the eleventh hour after suffering back spasms during the warm-up, while the whole England side and staff were forced to evacuate their hotel early in the morning because of a fire alarm.

It was certainly a sleepy start by the hosts and Australia took full advantage with its most dominant performance of the series with the ball so far.

The drama started early with Andrew Strauss surviving a plumb lbw appeal from the first ball of the match.

He was soon on his way though, when Marcus North took a tremendous one-handed catch at third slip after the English captain nicked Peter Siddle behind for 3.

Ravi Bopara's lean series continued, gone for 1 after edging a rising Ben Hilfenhaus delivery to Michael Hussey at gully.

Mitchell Johnson picked up his first wicket after Ian Bell fended off an accurate bouncer with his gloves straight to the fit-again Brad Haddin behind the wicket.

Clark then joined in the act, leaving England on the ropes at 4 for 42 when Paul Collingwood prodded an outswinger into the safe hands of Ricky Ponting.

Opener Alastair Cook followed soon after, succumbing to another shapely Clark special to make it a hat-trick for the slips cordon with Michael Clarke doing the honours.

Stuart Broad could not see his side through to lunch and was caught by Simon Katich at short square leg for 3 in the final play of the morning session.

The accurate Siddle returned from the luncheon break to clean up the tail with the last four wickets coming for only 30 runs.